Worcester PD hopes to buoy staffing

The Police Department is asking city officials to approve funding for 20 to 25 police recruits who would join the force starting in January 2014.

This request comes as 17 Worcester police recruits continue past the midpoint of the police academy and are scheduled to graduate April 5. The addition of the current recruits will increase the number of police officers in the department, but with anticipated attrition by August, the number of officers will be at 335. That is a net result of five more officers.

“With the current staffing level, while sometimes taxed as previously stated, the department will work hard to provide for a safer community,” Police Chief Gary J. Gemme stated in a letter to City Manager Michael V. O'Brien. “However, meeting community expectations for police services and changing perceptions of crime and safety require consistent police visibility and personal contact with officers patrolling the neighborhoods. These objectives can only be accomplished with additional police officers.”

The plea for more recruits is part of Mr. O'Brien's agenda for Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Chief Gemme is hoping for a commitment for the 2014 budget for 20 to 25 recruits. This would allow the department to begin background checks on candidates, prepare the police academy and complete other necessary work before the recruits begin.

“If we could start a class July 1, they wouldn't graduate until December and be on the streets until January 2014,” Chief Gemme said in an interview. “The longer we delay, the longer it will be before we can hire and train them.”

A new recruit class of 20 to 25 officers would put the department in good shape, the chief said. Police officials do not anticipate major changes in staff after the summer of 2013.

The department in 2004 adopted a split-force policing model with three interrelated strategies of responding to calls for service, addressing quality of life and neighborhood issues and responding to violent crime associated with gangs, drugs and guns.

Using the split-force model helped the department free up officers to work on neighborhood issues. While Community Impact Division officers work on neighborhood issues, the patrol officers are able to handle calls for service.The department also uses the Crime Analysis Unit to review crime trends and help identify areas in need of additional police resources.

The current staffing levels have taxed the department's resources, the chief said, and there is a need for more officers to meet the demands of all of these services.While adapting to the economic downturn, the department also reduced the number of police supervisors from 99 to 88, which includes the chief and four deputy chiefs. The decrease is an annual savings of $1.15 million, Chief Gemme wrote.

With that change, the deputy chiefs have become increasingly involved with the day-to-day operations and are visible within the units they supervise.

One of the decreases in supervisors came when the department placed the command of the investigative divisions under one captain. The Gang Unit, Vice Squad and Detective Bureau now work together to share information and handle issues such as shootings. Members of all three units staff the Shooting Response Team as well.

“With great credit to chief, command staff and entire Police Department, the department is restructured top to bottom,” Mr. O'Brien said in an interview. “Supervisory positions from sergeants to deputy chiefs now have direct line authorities, responsibilities and accountability.”

In his communication to the council, Mr. O'Brien stated new investments in the Police Department must be for front-line officers who serve in traffic, community impact and patrol roles.

The council has stated another recruit class is a priority for fiscal 2014, the manager said. He plans on reviewing budget projections with a new recruit class of 20 a priority.Although no project price tag comes with this request, changes in contracts show the endeavor would be less expensive with lower salary steps and no Quinn Bill money in place for the projected new officers.

“The City Council and community want more uniformed patrol officers and neighborhood-based policing programs. The chief continues to strengthen the supervision of the department through training and oversight. He has been able to improve the year-to-year results of their professional police work with fewer and fewer supervisory positions. This, then, allows the net new dollars that I work with the City Council and community to be channeled to these (their) priorities,” Mr. O'Brien said. “The goals are always the overall safety of our community and our officers through strong management, great efficiencies and more patrolmen on the streets.”